Ping didn't stop running until his chest burned.
By the time he finally slowed down near the dorm building, his breathing was uneven, his heartbeat wild beneath his ribs. He bent slightly, gripping the strap of his bag tightly as he tried to calm himself.
Stupid.
So stupid.
He didn't even know what he was running from anymore. Keng's touch. Keng's voice. Or the terrifying realization that if he had stayed there even a few seconds longer- he would've kissed him again without hesitation.
Ping squeezed his eyes shut briefly. He could still feel everything too clearly. Keng's hand against his waist. The warmth of his body pinning him in place without force. The way Keng had looked at him- like he already knew he was losing.
Ping pressed a hand against his chest, frustrated by how violently his heart still pounded.
"Get a grip, Ping," he muttered to himself weakly.
But even saying it aloud didn't help.
Because the truth was- he liked it.
And that scared him more than anything else.
-
That night, Ping barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes, memories replayed instantly.
Keng leaning close. Keng whispering against his ear. Keng kissing him slowly enough to make his knees weak.
Ping buried his face deeper into his pillow with a groan.
"...Annoying jerk."
But no matter how much he complained internally, his chest still tightened painfully at the memory.
What made it worse wasn't even the kiss.
It was Keng's expression afterward. Not teasing. Not smug. Just serious. Careful. Like he was afraid Ping might disappear again if he pushed too hard.
Ping turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling.
"Why are you making this so difficult..."
-
The next morning, Ping avoided him completely.
He left the dorm earlier than usual. Changed his usual route to class. And whenever he sensed Keng nearby- he escaped before their eyes could even meet.
Keng noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
But surprisingly- he didn't chase him.
No teasing messages.
No waiting outside classrooms.
No hands grabbing his wrist to stop him.
Nothing.
And somehow, that made everything worse.
Because instead of chasing- Keng simply watched him.
Quietly.
Carefully.
Like Ping was something fragile that might shatter if handled too roughly.
Rain noticed the strange atmosphere.
"You're quiet today," he commented while walking beside Ping across campus.
"I'm always quiet." ping replied flatly.
Rain snorted.
"Not like this. Yesterday you ran off like you saw a ghost."
Ping stiffened instantly.
"I did not."
Rain hummed suspiciously.
"Funny," he said lightly. "Because someone has been staring holes into your back all morning."
Ping refused to turn around. He already knew who it was.
"I told you," he muttered, "mind your business."
Rain grinned shamelessly.
"Your business is loud these days."
Ping groaned internally.
'Why was everyone around him so annoying?'
-
By lunchtime, even Keng's friends had started noticing the situation.
Tao leaned back lazily in his chair, watching Ping across the courtyard.
"He really bolted yesterday."
Bank laughed softly.
"Didn't even look back."
Jinn tilted his head toward Keng.
"So?" he asked casually. "You finally pushed too far?"
Keng stayed quiet for a moment, fingers tapping lightly against his phone screen.
"I didn't push him."
Bank raised an eyebrow.
"Mm. But he still ran."
Keng finally looked up.
"...I'll wait," he said finally.
Tao blinked.
"Oh? That's surprisingly mature."
"I don't need to rush anymore," Keng replied calmly.
Bank narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"You sound way too confident."
Keng's gaze remained fixed on Ping.
Because despite all the running- despite all the avoidance- Ping still looked at him every chance he got. And Keng noticed every single time.
"He already crossed the line," Keng murmured softly.
Jinn sighed dramatically.
"You're terrifying when you're serious."
Keng ignored him.
-
Later that evening, Ping sat alone in the dorm's common room.
The place was unusually quiet, most students still outside or busy with classes.
Ping stared blankly at the vending machine across the room, pretending his thoughts weren't spiraling again.
Then suddenly- someone sat beside him.
Ping tensed immediately.
Before he could react, a familiar voice spoke softly.
"Relax."
Keng leaned back casually against the couch.
"I'm not here to trap you."
Ping kept his gaze forward stubbornly.
"Then why are you here?"
Keng was quiet for a moment.
"Because you've been running from me all day."
Ping's fingers curled slightly against his knee.
"I thought about yesterday," Keng admitted quietly.
"And maybe I moved too fast."
Ping looked away immediately.
Silence stretched between them again.
Then softly-
"I won't do that again," Keng said.
Ping's heartbeat slowed slightly.
"Not unless you want me to."
That made Ping freeze completely.
Because that wasn't the problem.
He just didn't know what he wanted anymore.
His feelings had become too tangled. Too messy. Part of him still wanted to stay angry. But another part- the weaker, more honest part- wanted to stop running entirely.
Ping lowered his head slightly.
"...That's not the problem," he admitted quietly.
"I don't know what I want."
For a second, the room felt painfully still.
Then Keng turned toward him fully. And smiled softly.
"That's okay."
Ping blinked.
Keng's voice remained calm and steady.
"I'm not leaving," he said again.
"But I'm not going to corner you either."
Something inside Ping loosened at those words. Not completely. But enough. Enough for him to finally breathe properly again.
"...You're annoying," Ping muttered weakly.
This time, Keng laughed softly. Not teasing. Not smug. Just warm.
"I know."
And for the first time since the staircase- Ping didn't run away from him.